Vacuum cleaner



Dec. 22, 1936. F. RIEBEL, JR. n N. I 2,064,854

VAC UUM CLEANER Filed Aug. 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor Do c. 22, 1936. I F. RIEBEL, JR. ET AL W? m mm 1 A g Patented Dec. 22, 1936 -VACUUM CLEANER Frederick Riebel, Jr., and Dewey M. Dow, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air-WayElectric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 2, 1935, Serial No. 34,399

Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the type which agitates an air cushion suspended carpet by means of a high speed motor driven rotary agitator including flexibly mounted beaters, such as that covered in pending application Serial No. 752,270, filed November 9, 1934, of which the present application constitutes a continuation in part.

The object of this invention is to provide a,

rotary agitator including a spindle and a beater I attached thereto by resilient means allowing relatively free circumferential deflection of the beater yet mounted for movement in a path which varies only slightly in its radial distance from the axis of revolution no matter what the speed of rotation.

In order to achieve maximum circumferential flexibility in combination with relatively low radial displaceability, the invention provides a beater which is rigid from the periphery of the spindle to its carpet contacting extremity, which is mounted for relatively free swinging movement, the locus of which is substantially at the periphery of the spindle, the distance from said locus to the carpet contacting extremity being relatively great, i. e., substantially as great as the distance from the center of rotation to the periphery of the spindle, and resilient means, acting at the locus of swinging movement for resiliently opposing the same and for returning the Y beater to a normal position after it has severed carpet contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the resilient means is this connection, it is aimed in a preferred form of the invention to locate the region of flexing or a major portion thereof Within the hollow interior of the beater which is made in the form of a shell for this purpose and also for the sake of lightness to reduce its inertia. The invention in this connection contemplates locating the fiexingregion of the resilient means intermediate the side walls of the neck portion of the beater and spacing it from said side walls so as to'give freedom of flexibility therebetween.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and construction and arrangement of the various parts thereof, whereby the objects contemplated are attained,- as more fully set forth in the accom-, panying specifications, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated, in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a floor tool of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the rotary agitator of the invention. 5

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through a portion of the rotary agitator.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the agitator.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig. '7 is a similar view of another modification. Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig; 9 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of another modification.

Fig. 11 is a similar viewof a modified form of the invention wherein means are provided for positiveley limiting the beater against extension under centrifugal force beyond its proper path of revolution. I

Fig. 12 is a similar view of a modification of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a. similar view of another modification of the same. 25

Fig. 14 is a similar view of another modification of the same.

Fig. 15 is a .similar view of another modification of the same.

Fig. 16 is a similar view of another modification of the same.

Fig. 17 is a similar view of another modification of the same. I v

Fig. 18 is a similar view of another modifica-- tion of the same. 35

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the beater of Fig. 10.

Fig. 20 is a similar view of the beater of Fig. 17.

The invention is embodied in a vacuum cleaner floor tool including a suction chamber In and a neck ll connecting the same to a source of suction. Wheels I2 support the suction chamber l0 above the supporting surface, and the carpet C is lifted by suction against the mouth of chamher In. An agitator drive motor I4, mounted on top ofv the suction chamber I0, drives the rotary agitator spindle I3 by means of a belt IS. The direction of rotation is clockwise.

Socketed in the spindle l3 are brush elements 18 and heaters l9. v

In that form of the invention shown in Fig; 3, the beater comprises a. shell 20 of tough, rigid material such as metal having a rounded carpet contacting face 2| which is smooth and polished so as to slide easily over the nap of a carpet and 55 a skirt or neckiportlon 22 which extends substantially to the periphery of the spindle I3 (see Fig. 2 in which the Fig. 3 form is disclosed in longitudinal section). The shell 20 may be of any length, could be pear shaped, preferably is in the form of an elongated channel as shown in Fig. 2, with either open ends or ends closed [by end walls 23.

The beater shell is attached to the spindle l3 by a flexible element which in Fig. 3 takes the form of an elongated strip of rubber including a head portion' 24 secured in the shell 20, and a neck region 25 of reduced thickness joined at one extremity to the head 24 and at its other 'extremity socketed in a socket in the spindle l3 and secured by any suitable securing means such as the set screw 21. A metal backing channel 25 may or may not be used to facilitate the mounting of the neck 25 in the spindle. If used. it is preferably bonded to the neck 25 by a known bonding process. The beater shell 20 projects beyond the periphery of the spindle 13 a distance/sufllcient to enable the blow of carpet contact to'exe'rt enough leverage against, the flexing region of the neck 25. to causethe heater to recede circumferentially with ease. Suflicient flexibility is assured by providing adequate radial length in the flexing re gion of the neck 25. This is accomplished largely by the spacing of the neck 25 from the skirt walls 22 of the shell 20 suiilciently to allow the neck freedom of flexibility within the skirt. In this manner; the rigid skirt walls of the beater may be extended entirely to the periphery so as to completely conceal the rubber and. to protect it from injury. 4

A depression 28, corresponding in length to that of the beater shell 20 formed in the periphery of the spindle l3, accommodates the inward swing ing movement of the edge of the trailing skirt wall 22 as the beater is deflected under carpet contact, and also accommodates the edge of the leading wall 22 when-the beater swings to an opposite extreme after severance of carpet contact.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the construction is the same as that of Fig. 3 with the exception that the extremities of the skirt walls 22 are curved along the surface of a cylinder and socketed in a semi-cylindrical depression 28a in the spindle. This provides a definite hinging connection between the beater and the spindle which is such as to prevent the beater from being depressed radially towards the axis of the spindle under proper contact.

In the forms in which the rubber mounting is used, a fabric may be incorporated in the rubber to prevent radial stretching or distension of the beater under centrifugal force without decreasing circumferential flexibility.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, a sheet of thin spring metal 25a is substituted for the neck of rubber 25 of Fig. 3. The sheet 250 has a portion 24a which is secured as by welding to the inner face of the beater shell 20.

In the form shown in Fig. 10, a pair of spring wires 25b is employed instead of the rubber 25. One method of, securing the wires 25b in the spindle I3 is shown in Fig. 19.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 a thin sheet of spring metal 25a is employed, as in Fig. 9, and is secured in the shell 20 through the medium of a, body of rubber 24 in which the sheet 25a is bonded. I

In Fig. 6, a pair of wires 25b is employed to anchor the shell 20 against radial distension, said wires being either of spring metal or of soft metal, and a coil spring 30 encircling the wire 25b, provides the resilient resistance against circumferential deflection. The inner end of the coil spring 30 is socketed as at 3i in the spindle and its outer end is secured to the upper shell as by encircling a lug 32 formed in the shell.

In Fig. '7, the construction is the same as in Fi 6, with the exception that the coil spring is attached to the inner end of the wire 25b, forming a threaded portion 33 which is threaded into the spindle l3.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the construction is the same as in Fig. 10, with the exception thatresistance against circumferential deflection is provided by a, body of rubber 34 secured in the depression 28, and the wire 25b may or may not be of spring material, serving in this case simply to provide radial anchorage.

In the forms shown in Figs. 11 to 18 inclusive, radial anchorage is provided by flanges 35 formed on the extremities of the skirt walls 22, and plates 36 extending over the sides of the depression 28, and engaged by the flanges 35. The plates 33 are preferably detachable for the-purpose of allowing insertion and removal of the beater shells. To this end, cap screws 31 extend through the plates 36 and are threaded into the spindle l 3.

, In the form shown in Fig. 11, the resilient means to resist circumferential deflection comprises a body of rubber having a head 24 engaged against the inner surface of the outer extremity of the shell 20, and a neck region 25 which is socketed at 26a in thespindle I 3. may not be secured to the shell 20, the neck 25 in this casehaving no function of resisting radial -of radial depression is allowed. This gives a cushioning action which provides a somewhat milder beating effect where desirable.

The advantages of having the beater shell extend entirely to the periphery of the spindle so as to completely cover the resilient body of rubber, concealing it and protecting it against injury and deterioration, are present in this form of the invention.

A particular advantage of this form of the invention is the positive limiting of the beater element to a predetermined path of rotation beyond which it cannot extend no matter what the speed of rotation may be. This is quite important since a vacuum cleaner or the type under consideration depends for cleaning efliciency upon a close and delicate adjustment of the rotary agitator to the surface of the carpet being cleaned and this adjustment must be changed for different types of carpeting material. It is therefore highly desirable that the adjustment can be controlled to a fine degree by the usual means forv raising and lowering the vacuum cleaner floor tool or for raising and lowering the agitator per se, without hav ing such adjustment destroyed by an unwanted variation in radial distance of the beating surface from the center of revolution under the influence of centrifugal .force. It will be under, stood of course that where provision is made for controlling the speed of rotation so as to control the distance of the beating surface from the cen- The head 24 may or ter of rotation in an arrangement wherein radial distensibility under centrifugal iorceis specifically provided for, that this would not hold true, but the present invention is not concerned with that type of construction but rather with the type wherein adjustment is effected without the aid of centrifugal force.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12, a thin sheet of spring metal 25a, connected to the beater shell in the manner already described for Fig. 8, is employed in place of the rubber 2 In Fig. 13, the resilient means is the same as has been described for Fig. 9.

In Fig. 14, the resilient means comprises a coil spring 30, attached to the spindle and to the shell as has been described for Fig. 6, and preferably placed under compression so as to offer resistance to radial depression of the beater.

In Fig. 15, the resilient means comprises a compression spring 40 acting between the forward side of the shell 20 and the rigid post 4| which is mounted in the spindle l3 and projects into the shell 20.

In the form shown in Fig. 16, the resilient means comprises a cushion of soft rubber 34a mounted in the depression 28a, and engaging the inner faces of the flanges 35.

It may be noted particularly with respect to this form of the invention, although the same applies in a general way to the other forms, that the distance of the contacting face 2| from the locus of hinging movement of the beater shell, which is positioned roughly at the periphery of the spindle, is sufliciently great, and that the width of the skirt or neck region 22 is sufliciently small, and

the distance between the flanges 35 is therefore sufliciently small so that the carpet blow will exert suificient leverage against the beater to v easily swing it around the axis of circumferential deflection. At the same time, radial depression is minimized. Consequently the desired result of a great circumferential flexibility with a minimum of radial depressibility, is achieved, dirt loosening efiectiveness being dependent primarily upon the downward component blow which is struck. The circumferential swiping action which causes the most injury to the pile of the carpet is reduced to a minimum. V p

In the form shown in Fig. 18, the construction is the same as in Fig. 16 except that flanges of rubber 42 are interposed between the flanges 35 of the heater and the plates 36, to eliminate direct contact between the flanges and the plates and render the operation relatively noiseless. These flanges 42 of rubber are relatively thin and have little effect on'thesecurity against radial distension.

In Fig. 17, the construction is the same as in Fig. 16 with the exception that acoil spring 34b is substituted for the rubber cushion 34a.

In the three forms shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, the beater may, if desired, be made a solid body 20a as shown in Fig. 18.

Each of Figs. 3 to 18 inclusive shows the agicontact, the'direction of rotation being clockwise.

We claim: 1. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid beater element projecting radially from the periphery of said spindle, and flexible means attaching said beater to the spindle, said means being contained chiefly within the beater.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid beater element projecting radially from the periphery of said spindle, and flexible means forming the sole means for attaching said heater to the spinchiefly within the beater, attaching the beater to the spindle, holding said neck in hinging contact and allowing circumferential recession of the beater with minimum resistance thereto.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid beater element attached to and projecting radially from said spindle, and capable of swinging substantially circumferentially of the spindle, and resilient means contained chiefly within the beater, for opposing such swinging movement.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotating spindle, a beater hinged thereto, comprising a channel of rigid material, and resilient means having an active region disposed inside said channel, for yieldingly maintaining said channel in a normal positiorl and allowing the same to recede circumferentially of the spindle under carpet contact while yieldingly resisting such recession, the side walls of said channel extending substantially to the periphery of the spindle.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotating spindle, a beater hinged thereto, comprising a channel of rigid material, and resilient means having an active region disposed inside said channel, for yieldingly maintaining said channel in a normal position and allowing the same to recede circumferentially of the spindle under carpet contact while yieldingly resisting such recession, said resilient means comprising a body of rubber secured to the spindle and secured in-the channel, said active region being unattached to the channel.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotating spindle, a beater hinged thereto, comprising a channel of rigid material, and resilient means having an active region disposed inside said channel, for yieldingly maintaining said channel in a normal position and allowing the same to recede circumferentially of the spindle under carpet contact while yieldingly resisting such recession, said resilient means comprising a body of readily flexing resilient material secured to the spindle and secured in the channel, one side of said active region being unattached to the channel.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotating spindle, a heater hinged thereto, comprising a channel of rigid material, and resilient means extending into the channel and attached thereto, for yieldingly maintaining said channel in a normal position and allowing the same to recede circumferentially of the spindle under carpet contact while yieldlngly resisting such recession, at least .one side wall of said channel extending substantially to the periphery of the spindle.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid beater element projecting radially from the periphery of said spindle and adapted to swing substantially circumferentially relative to said spindle, and a body of readily flexing resilient material secured I at one extremity in said beater and attached at an opposite extremity to the spindle, said body including an intermediate flexing region which is unattached to the'adjacent walls of the beater.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid beater element projecting radially from the periphery 75 of said spindle, and a body of readily flexing resilient material attaching the beater to the spindle', said body being secured at one extremity in said beater and attached at an opposite extremity to the spindle, said body including an intermediate flexing region which is unattached and spaced from the adjacent walls of the beater.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle having an opening defined between spaced members on its periphery, a hollow rigid beater projecting through said opening andprovided at its inner extremity with projecting parts normally engaged against the inner faces of said members, said beater being capable of swinging circumferentially about a locus between and substantially in the plane ,of said members and projecting beyond said locus a distance substantially as great as the radius of the spindle and means, contained chiefly within the beater, for opposing such swinging movement.

12. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle having an opening defined between spaced members on its periphery, a hollow rigid beater, projecting through said opening and provided at its inner extremity with projecting parts normally engaged against the inner faces of said members, said beater being capable of swinging circumferentially about a locus between and substantially in the plane of said members and projecting beyond said locus a distance substantially as great as the radius voi? the spindle, and resilient means attached at one extremity to the interior of said body and at its other extremity to the spindle, for opposing such swinging movement. 13. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle having an opening defined between spaced members on its periphery, a rigid beater having a narrowed neck projecting through said opening and terminating in a parts engaged against the inner faces of said members, said beater being capable of swinging circumferentially around a locus between and substantially in the plane of said members, and projecting beyond said locus a distance substantially as great as the radius of the spindle, and resilient means opposing such swinging movement.

14. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle having a shallow depression in its periphery, flanges overlying the sides of said depression, a rigid beater having a neck extending into said depression and flanges I on said neck overlapping the aforesaid flanges within the depression, said beater being capable of swinging circumferentially around a locus between and in the plane of said spindle flanges, and projecting beyond said locus-a distance substantially equal to the'radius of the spindle, and resilient means opposing such swinging movement.

15. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotating spindle, a hollow rigid 

